He said: "Some directors of football have never played the game. I'm lending my experience as a manager for all those years – 10 years at Wimbledon, two years at Nottingham Forest, two years winning promotion at Luton and, of course, almost two years at Newcastle. I would still be there had it [a heart attack] not occurred."

Kinnear was actually in charge at St James' for a little more than six months before his health problems struck.

He said: "Some directors of football have never played the game. I'm lending my experience as a manager for all those years – 10 years at Wimbledon, two years at Nottingham Forest, two years winning promotion at Luton and, of course, almost two years at Newcastle. I would still be there had it [a heart attack] not occurred."

Kinnear was actually in charge at St James' for a little more than six months before his health problems struck.